Envelope construction



Jan. 31, 1933'. E. G. @VERDIl 1,895,484

NVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2'7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "pag.5

f/,wef 6. @Ver/ey Jan. 31, 1933. E. G. ovERLY 1,895,484

ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 27, 1950 3 Sheets-$1601. 3

Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNlED STATES ELMER G. OVERLY, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOE CONSTRUCTION Application led February 27, 1930.

The present invention relates to envelopesV which are designed and constructed Jfor receiving and carrying through the mails a more or less bulky article as well as a card or letter which is transmitted with the bulky article in the saine envelope or container.

One of the objects of the invention is to soconstruct an envelope ot the typeabove described that its cost of production is minimized; that itsconstruction is simple and elhcient; and that when in use and in transport all of the contents of the envelope are securely held within the envelope.

Another object of the present invention is to construct an envelope ot the type above described which may hold and transport simultaneously two classes ot mail, one of which may be a letter or a card and which constitutes Erst class mail and the other of which I may be a more or less bulky article which piece of J'irst class mail, which is so constructed that it may be placed within the large envelope and held securely therein and cooperating therewith to display the address carried thereby through a suitable opening in the large envelope thereof. While the invention as disclosed herein is partly shown as designed and constructed for the purpose of holding and transporting through the mails an automobile license plate and an accompanying registration card, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this specific form and that the invention may be applied to many other uses and that it may be modified so as to be suitable for the transmission of any substantially bulky article and a transmission letter or card all in one container.

The drawings which are submitted as a part of the present specification and application, show several embodiments of the present invention tor illustrative purposes, it being understood that the invention is not to be limited by these specilic embodiments and that many modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art, these modili- Serial No. 431,683.

cations falling within the scope of the claims appended herewith.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1,2 and 3 show one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 1 showing a. front view of the envelope and containing both the bulky article and the card. Fig. 2 shows a rear view with the sealing flap open. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. il is a view oi the card which is utilized in the present invention.

Figs. 5, 6 and 2' show another modification ot the present invention, in which Fig. 5 is a view of the rear of the envelope with the flap sealed; Fig. 6 is a similar view with the lap unsealed and Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 8, 9 and l() show another form of the invention in which Fig. 8 is a view of the rear of the envelope with the sealing flap sealed. Fig. 9 is a similar View with the sealing iap open andFig. l0 illustrates the small envelope used in this organization.

Fig. 1l is a further modification of the invention.

The forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 7 are designed primarily :tor holding and transporting in the mail one or two automobile license plates and the accompanying state registration card. In the envelopes commonly used for this purpose hitherto a small additional compartment for holding and sealing the registration card is provided. rlhe present invention aims to eliminate this additional compartment and thereby to reduce the cost oit' manufacture ot the envelope, the envelope and registration card being, however, so constructed that the card, and the license plates, may be held within the single large compartment of the envelope and in such a manner that the registration card is held positively and securely so that the name and address of the automobile proprietor may be exposed through a window properly placed in the envelope tor that purpose, the card at the same time serving as an inside closure for that window.

In order to accomplish the above results, the present invention contemplates providing a. registration card with a toldable lip or flap which is folded over one edge of the back of the envelope and is ield in position by the gum on the flap of the envelope When it is sealed.

The registration card is shown in Fig. a as consisting of a main body portion 2O hav- `ing the desired information thereon and also including the name and address of the automobile proprietor; the card also being providedWith the lip or flap 21 which is foldable `on the line 22", this lip being no essential part of the registration card as such but serving merely to function during the transportation of the card and automobile tags.

If desired the line Q2 may be in the form of perforations so as to facilitate the separation of the lip 2l from the main body portion 2O of the card by the owner on the receipt of the same, thereby leaving the registration card in size and form substantially the same as that Which has been commonly used hitherto.

In the modification shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the envelope is of the type having the address Window in the front face thereof as shown at 24. After the license plate or other bulky material has been inserted in the envelope the registration card is inserted in such a manner that the face bearing the name and address registers with the opening 24 of the envelope and constitutes a closure therefor, the lip 2l being folded over the edge of the back of the envelope as is shown in Fig. 2. 7When the sealing flap 25 of the envelope is sealed as shown in Fig. 3, the registration card Will be held securely in place. The license plates 26 Will be seen in Fig. 8 as cooperating With the structure of the envelope to hold the registration card securely in position and in registration with the address Window Qa.

It Will be seen from the above that by the aid of the present invention, the cost of the envelope used for mailing automobile license plates and registration cards may be considerably reduced and that the cost of the assembly of these units is also reduced by reason of the fact that the sealing of one flap of the envelope completes the closure of the envelope Whereas in the envelopes commonly used hitherto tivo sealing operations were necessary.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 which show another form of the present invention. These embody substantially the same idea and the same manner of cooperation of the various elements as that shown in Figs. l, 2 and S, with the exception that the address Window 27 is here disposed on the back of the envelope instead of on the front of the envelope. The. same registration card as that shovvn in Fig. 4 may be utilized in connection With the envelope shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 and the sealing iap 28 also serves the` double function 'of closing the entire envelope and also securing the registration card in posi'- tion. I,

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 also contains another modification Which is designed to assist in the registry of the address portion yof the registration card With the address opening 27. For this purpose the back of the envelope contains a cut out portion 29 Which is of substantially the same Width as the Width ofthe registration card lip 21. If desired, the sealing flap 28 is also provided with a small cut out portion 30 Which registers With one end of the address vvindovv 27 as will be seen from an in spection of Figs. 5 and 6.

The manner of assembling the license plates and the registration card and envelope in the form shown in Figs. 5 to T, is substantially identical With those shown in Figs. l to 3. lt will be noted, however, that many advantages lioW from the specific construction shown in this modification. In the use of the invention as shown in these figures the license plates may be inserted into the envelope either before or after the insertion of the registration card.

1n the insertion of the registration card the assembler is in a position to check up on the proper insertion of the card Without any additional operations by reason of the fact that the address of the card is open to view as the assembler bends the lip 2l of the card over the edge of the envelope. By means of the invention as shown in this modification, therefore, the possibility yof errors in the manner of assembly is substantially eliminated.

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 show7 another rorm of the invention in which the same idea is made applicable to the transportation of a first class letter instead of a card which may be contained in an envelope. The piece of first class mail is shown in Fig. 10 as consisting of an envelope 31 having an address window 32, the envelope being provided with an unsealed flap 33. This envelope may contain aletter or any other form of communication having the name and address exposed through the Window 32 and the flap 32% of this envelope. serves substantially the same function as the lip 21 of the registration card and cooperates With the large envelope in substantially the same manner.

iff-.s in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 7 the open end of the envelope is preferably provided with a cut out portion 84; which receives the lip 33 of the smaller envelope 3l as shown. The sealing of the flap 35 serves to seal the Whole envelope and also secures the small envelope 3l in position, so that the address is exposed to view through the address Window 86 of the large envelope.

llhile in the modifications shovvn herein the insertion opening of the envelope, namely that opening in the envelope through which the registration or address card or the enenvelope and at the same time serve to secure the address bearing body in position so that it will not be shifted during transportation and will remain in registry with the address window of the envelope.

The ends 3T of the envelopes in the various modifications, namely the end which is opposed to the insertion opening, may be gummed and sealed as shown in Figs. l to 9 in which case the entire envelope and its contents must go as iirst class mail. If desired, however, this end of the envelope may be provided with an ungummed flap 38 which in turn is provided with a closure of any type well known in the art, such as a string and button 39 as shown in Fig. ll, or a metal clasp fastener or any other type of closure. An envelope having a closure 38 as shown in Fig. 1l may therefore be used for carrying two classes of mail, such as irst and third or 'fourth class. rl`he third or fourth class bulky material is carried in the main envelope while the first class mail is carried in envelope 3l, the same having an address portion which is exposed to view through the address window 36.

lt will be seen that by means of the invention disclosed herein a large envelope adapted for carrying bulky objects through the mail and having only one large compartment may be used for carrying two classes of mail and that the same envelope is also adapted for carrying large bulky articles, means being provided whereby an address card may be readily inserted within the envelope and held securely therein.

Having described my invention it will be apparent that many modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A large mailing envelope for transporting bulky objects through the mail, comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a closure i'lap integral with said front wall and adapted to overlap the rear wall to close the insertion opening of the envelope, one of said walls being formed with an address window, and said rear wall having a transverse cut out portion along the edge of said insertion opening; in combination with a relatively small body having an address receiving portion and an integral oldable lip, said body being adapted to be placed within said envelope with said portion in registry with said window, said lip being adapted to it into said cut out portion and foldable over said edge and to cooperate with said flap to hold said body securely in position when said flap is closed.

2. A large mailing envelope for transporting bulky objects through the mail, comprising a front wall,'a rear wall, a gummed sealing llap integral with said front wall and adapted to overlap the rear wall to close the insertion opening of the envelope, one of said walls being form-ed with an address window, and said rear wall having a transverse cut out portion along the edge of said insertion opening; in combination with a relatively small body having an address receiving portion and an integral foldable lip, said body being adapted to be placed within said envelope with said portion in registry with said window, said lip being adapted to lit into said cut out portion and foldable over said edge and to cooperate with said flap to hold said body securely in position when said flap is sealed.

3. A large mailing envelope fork transporting bulky objects through the mail, comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a closure iiap integral with said front wall and adapted to overlap the rear wall to close the insertion opening of the envelope, one of said walls being formed with an address window near the insertion opening, and said rear wall having a transverse cut out portion along the edge of said insertion opening; in combination with a relatively small body having an address receivingportion and an integral foldable lip, said body being adapted to be placed within said envelope with said portion in registry with said window, said lip being adapted to fit into said cut out portion and toldable over said edge and to coopcrate with said flap to hold said body securely in position when said flap is closed.

4. A large mailing envelope for transporting bulky objects through the mail, comprising a. front wall, a rear wall, a gummed sealing iiap integral with said front wall and adapted to overlap the rear wall to close the los insertion opening of the envelop-e, one of said tion with, a relatively small body hai/'ing an Y address receiving portion and an integral oldable lip, said body being adapted to be placed within said envelope with said portion in registry with said window, said lip being adapted to tit into said and foldable over said edge and to cooperate with said iiap to hold said body securely in position when said flap is sealed.

5. A large mailing envelope Jor transporting bulky objects through the mail, comprising a front wall, a rear wall, a closure liap integral with said front wall and adapted to overlap the rear wall to close the insertion opening ot the envelope, said rear wall being formed with an address window near the inv sertion opening, and said rear wall having a cut out portion A transverse cut out portion along the edge of said insertion opening; in Combination with, a relatively small body having an address receiving portion and an integral toldable lip, said body being adapted to be placed Within said envelope With said portion in registry with said Wind-ow, said lip being adapted to fit into said out out portion and toldable over said edge and to cooperate With said flap to hold said body securely in position Wlien'said flap is closed.

6. A large mailing envelope for transporting bulky objects through the mail7 comprising a front Wall, a rear Wall, a gummed sealing` fla-p integral With said front Wall and adapted to overlap the rear Wall to close the insertion opening of the envelope, the rear Wall being' formed with an address Window near the insertion opening, and said rear Wall having' a transverse cut out portion along the edge ot said insertion opening; in Combination with, a relatively small body having an address receiving' portion and an integral oldable lip, said body being adapted to be placed Within said envelope with said portion in registry With said Window, said lip being u dapted to fit into said cnt out portion and oldable over' said edge and to cooperate with said Hap to hold said body securely in position when said flap is sealed.

7. mailing envelope for transporting bulky objects through the mail comprising ay front Wall, a rear Wall, said Walls forming an insertion opening at one end thereof, a gummed sealing flap integral With said front Wall and adapted to seal said insertion opening, the edge otl the rear Wall adjacent said insertion opening being provided With a cutout portion, and one of said Walls being formed With an address Window near the insertion opening.

8. In combination, a Window envelope having a front Wall and a bac-lr Wall, an enclosure smaller than the envelope having an address bearing body portion and a folded attaching flap, one of said envelope Walls having` al cut out portion between the extremities of which the folded enclosure may be litted, to cause the body of the enclosure to lie Within the envelope With the address in registry with the envelope Wiiidovv and the attaching flap of the enclosure to overlie tlie outer face of said .vall,A and means carried by the attaching fra-p for adi-Xing the same to said Wall to prevent shifting of the enclosure relative to the envelope Window.

In' testimony whereof l have aliixed my signature to this specification.

LMER G. OVERLY. 

